Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A holder for aligning and supporting elongate, paramagnetic articles comprising: a support, having a plurality of first grooves formed in a surface thereof for receiving one of a first group of the articles in each of such first grooves; a magnet mounted adjacent to said first grooves, said magnet having a field extending substantially parallel to said first grooves; a spacer mounted with a first surface against said one end of said first grooves and blocking the one end of said first grooves, said spacer having a predetermined thickness; and a plurality of second grooves formed in a surface of said support, said second grooves extending in alignment with said first grooves against said spacer, whereby a second group of said articles, upon being placed into said second grooves, are magnetically attracted toward said first group of articles to become spaced therefrom by the thickness of the spacer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A holder for aligning and supporting elongate, paramagnetic articles comprising: a support, having a plurality of first grooves formed in a surface thereof for receiving one of a first group of the articles in each of such first grooves; a magnet mounted adjacent to said first grooves, said magnet having a field extending substantially parallel to said first grooves; a spacer mounted with a first surface against said one end of said first grooves and blocking the one end of said first grooves, said spacer having a predetermined thickness; and a plurality of second grooves formed in a surface of said support, said second grooves extending in alignment with said first grooves against said spacer, whereby a second group of said articles, upon being placed into said second grooves, are magnetically attracted toward said first group of articles to become spaced therefrom by the thickness of the spacer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
A holder according to claim 1, wherein: said support includes first and second support structures, each support structure extending the length of the holder and having adjacent end surfaces, said first grooves being formed in a surface of said first support structure and terminating in said end surface of said first support and said second grooves being formed in a surface of said second support and terminating in said end surface of said second support; and said spacer is located against said end surfaces of said first and second support structures, thereby blocking said adjacent ends of said first and second grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A holder according to claim 2, wherein said end surface of said first support has a recess extending the length of the holder for retaining the magnet in spaced relationship to the grooves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A holder according to claim 3, wherein said magnet is an assembly comprising: a magnet frame of a nonmagnetic material, said frame having a plurality of spaced pockets; a plurality of magnets, each magnet occupying one of said pockets; and two polepieces of a paramagnetic material covering opposite surfaces of said frame, said polepieces being drawn against said surfaces by the magnetic force of said magnets, thereby joining the polepieces, the magnets and the frame into said assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A holder according to claim 4, wherein the spacer is of a nonmagnetic material.